Gilbert San Tan Bible church is outgrowing school gym

Nearly five years ago, a small congregation met in a Gilbert Christian School gymnasium that was to be a temporary site for the San Tan Bible Church.

And while the borrowed space has become home, Pastor Clay Miller says the congregation’s continuing growth means the church will soon have to look for a larger, more permanent one.

Every Sunday at 6 a.m., a team of seven bleary-eyed parishioners arrives at the school to transform the empty gymnasium into a place of worship.

They roll out seven large oriental-style rugs and 10 black utilitarian mats to help protect the wood flooring; lay at least 1,000 feet of cable to supply electricity to the musicians — bass and electric guitarists, horns, drums, and the worship team singers — and install a simple podium on the makeshift stage.

Others hustle up coffee and breakfast pastries in the church cafe, which also serves as the school kitchen, where congregants mingle following the 7:30 a.m. Praise and Prayer Time and 8:30 a.m. Bible hour, and before the 10 a.m. worship service.

Hundreds of metal folding chairs are set up. More are set up each week as the congregation grows.

“Our first three years we didn’t grow much numerically, though we did spiritually, which is and always will be our focus. In just the last year, God has brought numerical growth, as well as an increase in giving,” said Miller. “It will be wonderful to have our own property but we are blessed with what we have now.”

Gary Bloomquist, a church founder and elder, is the full-time worship/administration pastor, and in charge of setting up Sunday mornings as well as other operations and church ministries.

“Everybody works together; after service we ask people to grab their chairs and take them to the racks. It’s been kind of fun to watch everybody get trained,” said Bloomquist, also founder of Worship Leaders Network.

He and wife Robyn work together as ministry facilitators.

The congregation, a mix of families, singles and professional couples, appears happy in the borrowed space. After worship service and as the well-organized tear-down happens around them, they hug, shake hands and chat as school-age children run around giddily.

“It’s not like we’re not a church until we have a building; we’re as much of a church without a building,” Bloomquist said.

Mesa resident Mike Cline, who attends with wife Christine and teen son Russel, said the borrowed gym is no impediment to worship.

“I’m sure most would agree attending church in a gymnasium wouldn’t be our first choice, but then the building isn’t what makes a church. A building is only a tool, and one that I believe San Tan Bible Church uses very well. We consider ourselves blessed to be a part of and to serve the body of Christ at San Tan Bible Church,” said Cline.

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